Surrey, British Columbia (June 26, 2013) – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced the funding of 12 research teams focused on improving Community-Based Primary Health Care (CBPHC) in Canada and other countries. The Minister was accompanied by Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood-Port Kells.

The 12 CBPHC Innovation Teams will work across provincial, territorial, and national jurisdictions to develop innovative solutions to improve the delivery of primary health care. The researchers will tackle pressing challenges such as chronic disease prevention and management, and access issues for vulnerable populations.

"Community-Based Primary Health Care is the heart of our health care system," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "Our Government understands that, for most Canadians, primary health care is the most frequent point of contact with the health care system, and we are committed to strengthening this front line of care. I am particularly pleased that the teams we are supporting today will also focus on ways to improve access for those most vulnerable among us."

The multi-disciplinary research teams will include not only researchers, but also health care professionals, policy makers, and citizens – from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

"Canada enjoys a wealth of CBPHC expertise and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research are proud to support these world-class research teams," said Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy research. "On behalf of CIHR, I also wish to acknowledge the support of our provincial partners, Quebec and British Columbia, as well as our international partners, Australia and New Zealand. It is my hope that this collaborative effort will yield research evidence that will benefit people around the world."

The CBPHC Innovation Teams are the first component of CIHR's Signature Initiative in CBPHC. The initiative's goals are to: improve access to appropriate community-based primary healthcare; enhance the patient experience; and contribute to better health outcomes. The second component of this initiative will support CBPHC Health Professional Scientists.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened health care system for Canadians. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.